Heel protector



April 22, 1969 HEEL PROTECTOR Filed y 25, 1966 Illi P. A. G. FREDON 3,439,435-

United States Patent HEEL PROTECTOR Pierre Andr Gaston Fredon, 27 Rue Deparcieux,

Paris 75, France Filed May 23, 1966, Ser. No. 552,225 Claims priority, application France, May 26, 1965, 13,557; Apr. 22, 1966, 58,778 Int. Cl. A43c 13/00 US. Cl. 36-72 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stiletto-type heel equipped with a tip of magnetic material is combined with a protector which comprises a permanent magnet adapted to adhere to the lower surface of the tip and a cap integral with the base and surrounding at least the lower part of the heel. This protector prevents the heel from damaging the surfaces walked on while it protects the heel itself and facilitates walking on uneven surfaces.

It is known to equip heels of shoes, and particularly those usually called stilettd heels, with protectors which prevent them from piercing and damaging parquet floors or linings. These known heel protectors are made from rubber and remain on the heel by their own elasticity. They can be used only on even and hard surfaces. They do not adhere to the heel, are not stable and tend to deteriorate with use. Generally they can be used only inside buildings and are useless for walking outside.

The invention has the object of supplying an improved heel protector which adheres firmly to the heel and which not only prevents damage to the floor but also protects the heel.

It is another object of the invention to provide a heel protector which facilitates walking outside, especially on gravel or sand or on wet ground.

The improved heel protector according to the invention comprises a base with a permanent magnet which adheres to the centre pin of the heel, made of magnetic material, wherein the said base is equipped with a surround which extends preferably so as to form a cap which embraces at least the lower part of the heel. Preferably, this base has an enveloping shape so as to fit and surround the heel tip and to form a reinforcement for the covering or cap.

The invention will be further described in a non-limitative manner and merely by way for example with reference to the accompanying exemplified drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the rear part of a shoe equipped with a heel protector according to the invention, shown in cross-section;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but on a larger scale;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial views, similar to FIG. 2, showing on a yet larger scale the upper portion of the heel protector in two different positions;

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the upper part of the heel protector, in transverse cross-section;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing another embodiment of the heel protector according to the invention;

FIG. 7 shows in side elevation the lower part of the heel with heel protector according to the invention, shown in cross-section;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section along the line VIIIVIII in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows in elevation another embodiment of the heel protector fitted to the lower part of a heel.

The shoe, the rear part of which is shown in FIG. 1, has a stiletto heel 1, equipped with a steel tip 2, as known per se. These steel tips are interchangeable. Thus, it would be easy to replace such a tip, made from non-magnetic material by a steel tip to enable the use of a heel protector according to the invention.

The heel protector comprises a metal base 3 encased in a cap 4 of a thermoplastic synthetic resin. The base 3, shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, is a ferrite block magnetized in such a way that it presents facing the base of the heel tip 2 one or more pairs of magnetic north or south poles. It is cup-shaped in such a manner that, when it surrounds the tip 2, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, its edges embrace the base of the heel 1 and leave a slight clearance 5 around the same.

The base is embedded in a thermoplastic resin forming a cap 4, produced, for example, by moulding around the base. The latter thus serves as reinforcement for the cap.

The cap 4 extends in height to the part of the heel 1 where the same starts to get wider. Below this portion, the cap is not in contact with the heel and a small clearance 5a of the same order as the clearance 5 exists around the heel so as to prevent any friction which might damage the heel. The upper part of the cap 4 is thinner as at 6 and lined internally with felt or another soft material. A ring 8, which may be of rigid material or of more or less plastic resin, has an internal inclined surface 8a which co-operates with the external inclined surface 6a of the thinner portion 6 and can slide upwardly thereon, so as to lock the felt 7 against the bee For fitting the heel protector, the same is threaded over the heel 1 until the base 3 rests against the tip 2 and adheres thereto magnetically. In this position, the upper part of the cap 4 makes contact through the felt 7 with the wider portion of the heel. Then the ring 8 is slid towards the top, as shown in FIG. 4, which locks the felt 7 against the heel by means of the inclined surfaces 8a and 6a. In this position, the heel protector bears only on the base of the tip 2 and on the wider portion of the heel 1 by the felt 7, and the clearance 5, 5a prevents rubbing between the base 3 and the body of the cap 4 on the one hand and the heel 1, and thus prevents damage. The base 3 adheres solidly to the tip and imparts rigidly and stability to the cap which, being locked against the heel in its upper portion, stabilizes the protector and prevents it from rocking. The heel protector can therefore be used for walking over uneven ground, such as gravel, where the heel often tends to tilt. For making walking outside even easier, the lower part of the cap is given a bulging or convex shape, as shown at 9 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

If there is a risk that repeated shocks might dislodge the ring 8 towards the bottom, the same may be locked in position, using for example the arrangement of FIG. 5. In this figure, the upper, thinner portion 6 of the cap embraces internally via the felt 7 the shape of the heel, whilst the outer surface 6a is a revolution surface and threaded as at 10. The ring 8' is internaily threaded so that, instead of sliding on the surface 6'a, it screws thereon and locks the felt against the heel. The thinner portion 6 of the cap has preferably one or more (preferably three or four) slots or vertical cuts enabling it to adapt itself to the taper of the heel. The ring, screwed up to the start of this taper, serves as support and blocks the heel protector. If the heel protector is to be used only inside buildings, it may be simplified by omitting the upper portion of the cap. FIG. 6 shows such a simplified protector, comprising only a base 3 enclosed in plastic material 4a which has a slightly arcuate inner surface 9. The magnetic adhesion of the base 3 on the tip 2 suffices for holding the heel protector in place, if the same is used only on even surfaces, without having to provide a cap for blocking it on the heel.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base comprises an annular magnet, for example, or ferrite or a suitable alloy, such as Alnico 5 (or Ticonal), whose terminal faces form the poles, and a disc of magnetically permeable material, preferably of a metal with high magnetic permeability, such as soft iron, applied to one of the faces. In this manner a cap-shaped base is formed Whose bottom, formed by the disc, rests against the tip of the heel.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a heel protector based on this principle and which, in the same way as protector of FIG. 6, is destined to be used for walking over even ground in order to protect parquet floors, moquette, carpets and the like. The heel .11 with its steel tip 12 is enclosed by the base, which comprises an annular ferrite magnet 13, whose upper surface 13a, forms, for example, the south pole Iwh-ilst its lower surface 13b forms the north pole, and a soft iron disc 14 applied to the said face 13b, wherein the assembly of this base forms a cap which is encased in a layer 15 of plastic material or the like.

Owing to the presence of the disc of soft iron 14, the induction lines of the annular magnet 13, shown diagrammatically at 16, extend from the north pole 13b towards the south pole 13a and accumulate in the magnetic circuit element formed by the disc 14, which has a high magnetic permeability, and the tip 12, so that the base is firmly attached to the tip. In other words, the magnetic circuit, formed by the magnet 13, the disc 14 and the tip 12, has a small air gap, so that the magnetic field of the magnet 13 is used at maximum for holding the assembly of base 13, 14 in contact with the tip 12 of the heel.

This magnetic fixing is sufificient to maintain the heel protector when the same is used on flat ground. A certain clearance is provided between the annular magnet 13 and the heel 11 to facilitate the fitting and to prevent rubbing which might damage the heel, as in the preceding embodiments.

In another embodiment, the casing is extended by a sleeve which is preferably also of plastic material, so as to form a cap similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 5, enveloping the heel up to a certain height. The outer surface of the heel is substantially cylindrical. The sleeve has one or more longitudinal slots which enable it to adapt itself to the wider part of the stiletto heel; a ring is provided which slides on the outer surface of the sleeve so as to urge a part thereof against a part of the heel and to block the heel protector in position.

The outer surface of the sleeve is preferably threaded. The ring is also threaded and screws on to the thread of the sleeve for pressing the cap on to the heel.

Owing to the provision of the slots, the heel protector can be easily fitted over the heel, extending when it reaches the wider part and the ring then locks the assembly together.

Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 9. The plastic casing 15 of the base is extended upwardly by a sleeve 17 which is preferably also of plastic and is internally lined with felt or another soft material, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 5. The internal shape of the assembly of this sleeve is the same as of the cap 4 in FIGS. 1 to 5 and adapts itself with a certain clearance to the shape of a stiletto heel 11. The outer surface of the sleeve 17 is substantially cylindrical and threaded as at 17a. The sleeve 17 has several longitudinal slots 18, whereby the sleeve can be easily pushed over the heel and expand when it reaches the wider portion thereof. The heel protector is blocked on the heel by a threaded ring 19 which is on the lower part of the sleeve 17 when the protector is fitted and is then screwed on to the thread 17a to urge a part of the sleeve 17 against the heel 11 whilst it is screwed upwardly.

This arrangement, in the same way as that of FIGS. 1 to 5, permits walking outside over uneven ground and prevents the base from rocking.

Naturally, the heel protector may be given different shapes according to the different shapes of the heels, or to impart to its base a width adapted to its intended pur pose. In addition, the heel protector may be made in different colours and may be decorated.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a stiletto heel having a tip of material adapted to be attracted by magnetic forces, with a protector which comprises a cup-like device having (1) a wall portion adapted to surround a lower portion of the heel, and (2) an end closing portion, said cup-like device incorporating permanent magnet means for producing a magnetic force adapted to clamp the end closing portions to the tip.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device is a cup-like ferrite member having at least one pair of magnetic poles on an upper surface of said closing portion to produce the magnetic force.

3. The combination as claimed in claim .1 wherein the protector comprises the said cup-like device embedded in a cap of thermoplastic resin.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the wall portion is an annular permanent magnet having two end faces which form a pair of magnetic poles, and the end closing portion is a disc of magnetically permeable material adhering magnetically to one of said end faces.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the cap extends above the cup-like device up to an enlarged portion of the stiletto heel to form a sleeve extension of the cap which surrounds an intermediate portion of the heel, said sleeve extension having means for tightening an upper portion of the sleeve extension against the said enlarged portion of the stiletto heel.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein the said upper portion has a lining of soft material on its inner surface.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein the said means comprise a ring member fitted around the sleeve extension and adapted to be shifted over said upper portion to tighten the same against the enlarged portion of the heel.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein the ring member has an inner surface which is tapered upwardly and outwardly, slidingly connected to said upper portion which is tapered correspondingly.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein the inner surface of the said ring member and the outer surface of the said upper portion are threadedly engaged.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein said upper portion has at least one longitudinal slot.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sleeve-like extension of the cap is threaded externally and slotted lengthwise, and a threaded ring member is fitted over said extension, which is adapted to be screwed on said extension to tighten the same against the enlarged portion of the heel.

12. A heel protector comprising:

an annular permanent magnet,

a disc of magnetically permeable material closing one end of the annular magnet, and

a cup-like cap of thermoplastic resin with annular sleeve and closed end portion completely enclosing said annular magnet and the disc,

said closed end portion of the cap being in contact with the disc and said annular sleeve portion of the cap encasing the annular magnet and extending beyond the annular magnet, said extended portion of the annular sleeve being internally and annularly lined with a soft material and externally constricted by a rigid ring.

(References on following page) Helwitz. Givens. Giannini. Henry. Gross nan.

6 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,225,749 2/1960 France. 1,271,112 7/1961 France.

842,426 7/ 1960 Great Britain. 1,010,459 11/1965 Great Britain.

567,126 10/ 1957 Italy.

ALFRED R. GUEST, Primary Examiner. 

